Preliminary Control-Oriented Modeling of the ITER Steering Mirror Assembly and Local Control System in the Electron Cyclotron Heating & Current Drive Actuator

Abstract

The ITER Electron Cyclotron Heating and Current Drive (ECH) plays a pivotal role in heating and controlling fusion plasmas, with the Steering Mirrors being a crucial component of this actuator. A representative model of the ECH is compulsory in the development and validation of the Plasma Control System (PCS). This manuscript aims to propose a Control-Oriented model of the Steering Mirrors based on the design tested at the Swiss Plasma Centre. In this design a steering mirror rotates on some frictionless flexure pivots due to the action of a set of externally pressurized bellows acting against pre-compressed springs. This system is referred to as the Steering Mirror Assembly (SMA). The adherence of the model is tested by comparing the simulations with the experimental results, while considering ITER’s most recent requirements. Performances, generally increased in terms of accuracy, are in line with the prototype’s results.